Sinterklaas

Yesterday in the Netherlands and today in Belgium the celebration of Sinterklaas has spread cheer to kids and adults alike. Sinterklaas is the traditional celebration of his birthday. It was at one time a Christian celebration of St. Nicholas but once the Netherlands became a majority Protestant country the celebration became St. Nicks birthday. Sinterklaas is also the basis of Santa Claus in the States.

Sinterklaas comes from Spain with his helper Zwarte Piet or Black Peter. Zwarte Piet is a controversial figure some go as far as to say the image is racist. Of course the shouts of protest come from people who don't see the historical value of Zwarte Piet only the image of a white man with a black helper(you can see a Piet in my picture above). Zwarte Piet has various explanations some say he is a slave to Sinterklaas some say he is a former slave that was freed by Sinterklaas and became so indebted to Klaas that he stuck around to help. Either way Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet bring presents to adults and children all across the Netherlands and the happiness and spirit is hard to ignore. Here in the Netherlands they've created many versions of Piet, the helper Piet, the spying Piet who watches the children to make sure they are good etc.. etc.. Tradition has also said that kids who have been naughty get stuffed into a sack that Zwarte Piet carries and they get carted off to Spain. I'm not so sure that threat exists today or not. More can be found about Zwarte Piet on the internet. For you who are shouting racist! try to wrap your head around this possibility for a Zwarte Piet beginning, some say he was a Persian character called Haji Firuz......so not only can you get wrapped around the axle about Piet being black you can also get wrapped around the axle about him being Persian.....for you that don't know, Persian are people from Iran. We all know how bad people from Iran are......ok not really but I am sure for the haters of Piet the additional info regarding Piet is more fuel for your hating fire.

I like Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas. They both bring a very good energy to the street of the Netherlands and the communities embrace them. Shops are decorated, parades go down the market streets and it is a really good time. So I recommend that instead of focusing on the color or ethnicity of Piet, focus on the happiness that he brings. Once people are able to focus on and embrace good, hatred will go away and happiness will follow.